I had an interview an hour ago for a newspaper, and there was a question that it took me awhile (long while) to answer... The question was:
What is your style in terms of lighting and composition?
I hope i answered the questions good enough to please the writer.

Thru the years in my life in Advertising, there are no styles that I followed or maintained. I would say it is more of how I wanted to show the meaning of the
given concept in one image. To show what the client needs and what the agency
wants and what I can suggest and add inputs on the given subject. If not having a client, a self project I would just shoot what I feel is nice and what ever concept that i can implement and just shoot.. Am i in big trouble of not having a style??? Some clients/ friends would say they can tell which image i shot , maybe i have a style that I am not aware of...?????

I am from advertising that's why I thought of starting this thread.

One of the questions too was What makes a Good picture?
I think i had a good answer for that.....:)
You? What makes a good picture and what is your style?

G-nie, I too am from advertising...hehehe. The way I see it is that usually, some people use certain phrases and words without really understanding the meaning or can't even explain themselves.

Most of the time, hindi rin nila alam ang sinasabi nila! Hay naku, we've both been in advertising for quite sometime (magkasabay nga pala tayo pumasok sa PAC!) to know what the phrase "being subjective" means.

What makes a good picture? I guess the rule should be for a paid job, do what the client would like to have. Then, yung para sa iyo, kung ano ang gusto mo!

Style...it's My/Your Style!

Goody! nice to hear from you. I wonder how many kaya of us whose roots are from advertising who got into photography? I was an art director and if i am not mistaken you were a producer???? What do you do now? What brought you into photography? Are there any members here who works in advertising?

Based on what you've mentioned about style and with regards to what makes a good picture, well my opinion with regards to style is it depends if you are someone who follw things by the book or someone who follows certain rules/do's and dont's when taking a certain photograph and for me, I think (or what I believe) is that photography is a form of art and/or expression in which instead of using brushes, paints and a canvas we use our camera as our medium and everything depends on how we see things through the viewfinder or something like a"Through My Eyes" (http://www.terencesy.com) kind of way. You can follow his style or her style or even a hairstyle (hehehe) but at the end of the day whats important is your style what ever that may be. With regards to your other question "What makes a good photograph" well based on what I've learned and what I belive a good photograph is a labor of love, time spent, how you want to acheive the lighting, mood or capture a certain scenario etc. if all this fall into place because of your perseverence and endeavor, whatever people say or whether they like it or not as long as you got what you want and as long as you're happy with what you did then thats what you can call a good photograph.

Cheers!

Mukhang tayong dalawa lang yata ang nasa mainstream advertising dito eh! Anyway, yes, I still produce commercials! ooops O.T. na ko.

Hi G-nie,


I am not an advertising photographer but I do feel that the essence of photography whether it be advertising, wedding, photojourn, etc. is the same..just a different subject/approach. When I shoot a wedding, I have a personal rule that I follow. Shoot what the couple wants, shoot what the parents want (especially if they are paying), and shoot what I want. Then everybody is happy. (at least I hope so :D ) So like what several people have mentioned, shoot what they like and then feel free to do your own interpretation of how you feel the product/person should be photographed. To answer your question of what makes a good picture? Generally, I personally feel the harder it took me to make a photograph the better/more precious it is for me. The more "heart" i put to take a photograph, the more personal it becomes to me. There is a big difference between a "snaphsot" and a photograph.

What's a good photograph?

From a personal perspective, if I'm able to come up with a photo that "exactly" looks how I imagined it to be, then it's a good photo.

Taking it a step further, if I'm able to convey the emotion that I want in a photo to others with the same level of intensity, then that photo would've been a good one. Like if they say, "nice pic"... Hehehe ;)

For me, a good picture is as what Leon Battista Alberti described as one "that should hold the eye and soul of the observer." This is based on a belief that there is a universality that humans respond to. Thus, photographs of mundane things become captivating. For instance, pictures that Cartier-Bresson, Salgado, Natchwey, Allard submitted for news editorial have become iconic. Or commercial photographs done by Ralph Gibson, Rodney Smith or Kertesz have been elevated to art.

As for style, I'm more a "photojournalist." The challenge for me is finding the perfect geometry and timing where form and substance intersect to best express the subject. Sort of hunting with a rifle instead of an automatic. :)

In advertising, a good picture for me would be one that would best creatively (and effectively) illustrate the idea for an ad. As an art director my goal is to come up with ads with imagery that is simple yet powerful. Where one would just look at the picture and gets the idea without having to read a lot of copy. Of course this is very subjective.

BTW, G-nie and Jeric also came from PAC myself :)

This is an interesting thread. If we are talking about advertising specifically, then I agree with what Lester has to say. The client wants something and you give them what they want. The more clear the message the better. I also think the technicals have to be perfect, exactly the way the ad was envisioned.

But if we are talking simply about what makes a good picture, then I have a different opinion. For me a good photograph is about the subject. Technique can practically be thrown out the door with the proper subject. If you analyze the photos that have become legendary, you will probably see errors in technique but they have become classic because of their content.

For instance, Korda's infamous Che Guevarra image that everone knows. If you see the uncropped image, it looks cluttered. Che also looks a bit soft. But after a good crop, we are able to stare into the eyes of a revolutionary. We get the sense that Che is day dreaming, and looking into the future and probably wondering if he can change the world with his ideals.

Or how about the Doisneau's kiss in front of a paris hotel. The image is totally soft, blurred, the background washed out but......who cares? The subject is so striking that you can hear the sounds of the cars, the smell of the coffee and croissant, the people rushing in the street....and love in the air!

Lastly, we can take one of Ansel Adams most popular image, Moonrise. Adams was probably one of the most technical photographers in history, but his most famous picture was taken without the time to set up properly. While driving, Adams saw the moon rising over a small town, jumped out of his car, and with the light fading quickly had only enough time to set up his 8x10 camera and take one shot. The result? A photo with probably the worst technique ever. But after post processing in the darkroom, the image has become legendary.

For me, its the content that counts.

I had an interview an hour ago for a newspaper, and there was a question that it took me awhile (long while) to answer... The question was:
What is your style in terms of lighting and composition?
I hope i answered the questions good enough to please the writer.

Thru the years in my life in Advertising, there are no styles that I followed or maintained. I would say it is more of how I wanted to show the meaning of the
given concept in one image. To show what the client needs and what the agency
wants and what I can suggest and add inputs on the given subject. If not having a client, a self project I would just shoot what I feel is nice and what ever concept that i can implement and just shoot.. Am i in big trouble of not having a style??? Some clients/ friends would say they can tell which image i shot , maybe i have a style that I am not aware of...?????

I am from advertising that's why I thought of starting this thread.

One of the questions too was What makes a Good picture?
I think i had a good answer for that.....:)
You? What makes a good picture and what is your style?

Hi G-nie,

Raneil here. Hope you still remember me from Adphoto. I'm quite new here, just joined yesterday. Regarding your question about style, I think everyone does have a certain style that when you see their work you know that he/she made that photo. While it is true that we follow what the client wants but there are certain things that we unconsciously do to make the picture to our style, like lighting for instance. Or the way we compose a picture. Or the angles we choose. And I also think that your not having a style is good. This way, you won't be pigeon-holed to a style.

As for what makes for a good picture? I think that just doing what you do best and being happy with the results make for a good picture (that is if you're shooting for yourself and not for a client).

Raneil

i don't know if i would want to be identified with a style of my own or any style for that matter, at least not yet since i am after all a humble beginner. i, however, prefer the style to take a back seat and allow the beauty of the subject to shine through. a good picture i think is one that captures the moment and elicits emotions from the viewer.

Hi Nick,

I totally agree with you on content. Amazingly enough, I've never read or heard anyone say it like you did. I always thought a really good pic will stand up to scrutiny regardless of shooting circumstance. But the content has to be really compelling ; )

Hi!

I'm new to this thing. When I started with an IXUS P&S, I was leaning towards landscape and outdoors since during that time, I was mostly on my foot travelling. Unfortunately, just when I finally got my DSLR, I had very limited time to travel so I kind of got into the habit of shooting food and fashion since those are pretty much the easier ones to shoot given the time constraints and not being able to go out of town due to work commitments. So I guess, for a hobbyist like me, style sometimes has something to do with the circumstances and availability of the photographer to take photos. Personally, I don't know if I have developed any particular style yet...maybe it will come out in due time :-)

On good photos for advertising - I only have a few things in mind:
1. Does it satisfy the client's requirements?
2. Does it look tasteful? This is subjective though but as a photographer, I have to at least like my work first before I will have the guts to show it to other people
3. Does it invoke that kind of emotion the client wants from the audience?
4. Does it catch the eye? - well if it doesn't then that may not be worth putting up there! (if it's for advertising, it has to be really good!)
5. Does it tell a story?

For me, a picture is not a good picture if it doesnt have a message. In print ads you always need a headline. But if the visual is good and strong, you dont need a headline at all, your picture is your headline.

Hello g-nie and jeric. Looks like i'm way way behind you guys! I'm still stuck in doing ads but still dreaming and hoping that someday i will make it big in photography like you guys. Nice meeting you!

hi gnie,

that was a long interview ha:)

kk

Hi G-nie,

I have a question for you. During the shoot for an Ad campaign material, wherein an Art Director client is present. Can you feel "the heat"? i mean you are a photographer now (at the same time your "art director's blood still runs in your vein, right?)...and this Art Director kept telling you that you have to re-do that angle which for you was a perfect shot already, again my question is " do you feel the heat and feel like walking out"?:D ....sometimes you feel that you don't like doing this job anymore of "compromising" your artistic judgement...sometimes you want to do your syle but you can't because you have to follow the comp and layout given by the agency (of course)...do you think your style will shine in this situation given the fact that your hands are tied?...thanks for your response:)

g-nie, based on your answer, a lot of art directors and even accounts people will like working with you :)

chewy from ddb

Sorry guys, I was so busy the past weeks that's why I haven't had the chance of checking my mails and the forum itself fully.

Hi Ross! - There are times i miss being an art director that's why i do some personal projects when it allows me. Regarding Art Directors - i am paid to do the job that's why i do what they need but if i disagree on the kind of style they like, i do my own thing after they are happy and satisfied with what they like. Some would listen but when i feel the "heat" i just go out and take a break.....then back to reality after realizing that i have to do a good job.:)

To Chewy! - i hope they do:)

[QUOTE=g-nie arambulo]Sorry guys, I was so busy the past weeks that's why I haven't had the chance of checking my mails and the forum itself fully.

Hi Ross! - There are times i miss being an art director that's why i do some personal projects when it allows me. Regarding Art Directors - i am paid to do the job that's why i do what they need but if i disagree on the kind of style they like, i do my own thing after they are happy and satisfied with what they like. Some would listen but when i feel the "heat" i just go out and take a break.....then back to reality after realizing that i have to do a good job.:)

Hahaha, thanks G-nie:) , heto kwento lang ni Emil Davocol, minsan nag shoot sya ng product. For him he was able to deliver what the client wants already, pero this art director kept on nagging him to shoot more...sabi ni Emil eh impossible yung pinagagawa na, quoting Emil, "gusto ko na ngang hamunin ng suntukan eh" :Grin: ...thanks for sharing, at least you are "still" an artist:)

Yeah that's the sad part of being an art director, sometimes you have to do the task kahit na nakakasuka! hahaha!

Hi ross kamusta na si emil? Hope he's ok and back in business!